Tag: B1 – Intermediate

Amazon Germany Strike

B1 – Intermediate

Amazon is probably one of the best companies to work for. However, it looks like for some workers in their German warehouses, this isn’t true. They plan to go on strike for several reasons.

Read the transcript and listen to this audio on German Amazon workers’ plans to go on strike.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/amazon-strike-level-1/

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “strike” mean? “The strike will start on November 25.” Use this word in a sentence. Give 2 synonyms.
  2. What does “market” mean? “Amazon’s biggest market outside the US is Germany. ” Use this word in a sentence. Give 2 synonyms.
  3. What does “warehouse” mean? “Seven German warehouses plan to go on strike.” Use this word in a sentence. Give 2 synonyms.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your reaction to this news?
  2. What are the reasons Amazon workers want to go on strike?
  3. What is your opinion on the workers going on strike on Black Friday, an important shopping holiday?
  4. Do you like holidays such as Black Friday? Generally, what do you think of them?
  5. Share some experiences (good or bad) you’ve had with Amazon.

Green Flights

B1 – Intermediate

Transport makes up approximately one-fifth of the world’s carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. More and more companies are thinking to go green in their practices. Lufthansa, a big German airline, is one of them. The company plans to make their flights CO2-neutral.

Read the transcript and listen to this audio about green flights.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/green-flight-level-1/

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your reaction to this news?
  2. How did coronavirus impact the oil industry?
  3. Do you think it is a good thing that some companies will use biofuel instead of normal oil?
  4. What is the current problem with biofuels?
  5. Do you think biofuels will be used more and more in the near future? Why or why not?

Good Etiquette for Foreign Students

B1 – Intermediate

Studying abroad is a great opportunity for students. It is an opportunity to widen horizons, expand knowledge, and boost personal and professional lives.

As a foreign student, one must not only follow the rules of the receiving country but also follow good social etiquettes.

Watch this video on good etiquettes for international students.

Good Etiquette

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are the points on good etiquette Randall advises to international students?
  2. What are other points can you add to these?
  3. What is a ‘host family’? Why are they important?
  4. Have you lived abroad before? If yes, how did you show respect for the country you were living in?
  5. Do you have any experience studying abroad? If so, share about it. If not, what are the reasons and given a chance, would you do it?

South Korea and China Clash on Social Media Over Kimchi

B1 – Intermediate

Kimchi is a common dish among Koreans. It is a traditional fermented food which is made up of mainly vegetables and chili pastes and is normally served as sides. Koreans eat kimchi multiple times a day.

China has a similar dish called pao cai and they are trying to claim the international certification for the process of making this dish.

Let’s read the article below to learn why South Koreans and Chinese are clashing on social media over this.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2012/201203-kimchi-1.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you think China should have the international certification? Why / Why not?
  2. What are the staple dishes of your country?
  3. What do you know about kimchi?
  4. What dish / dishes from your country are you most proud of?
  5. What kind of Chinese food and/or Korean food do you like? Why?

Fire Safety

B1 – Intermediate

It takes a long time to build a house but only a few minutes to destroy it by the fire. Not only is fire economically damaging it could also be life-threatening. How do we get out of this situation or altogether avoid it?

Let’s watch the video and know some tips on fire safety.

Fire Safety

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are Randall’s fire safety tips?
  2. What other fire safety tips you observe at home?
  3. Are fire alarms and water sprinklers required in residential apartments in your country? If so, why do you think that is?
  4. Do you have a specific fire emergency number? How quickly do they respond?
  5. Have you witnessed fire before? How did you feel at that moment? How serious were the damages?

A Very Young Influencer

B1 – Intermediate

A seven-year-old child influencer from Italy has gained heartfelt support from people all over the world when his videos went viral on social media platforms. He proves that disability does not prevent a person from inspiring others.

Read the article and listen to the audio and be able to answer the discussion questions:

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/a-very-young-influencer-level-1/

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you think it is a good idea to make a very young child become an influencer on social media? Why or why not?
  2. If you had/have a child, would you let them become an influencer at a very young age? Why or why not?
  3. What do you think are the perks and pitfalls of being a child influencer?
  4. What do you think of social media influencers who have disabilities? How can they affect the lives of the viewers? What can we learn from them?
  5. How has the society changed their view on people with disabilities over the years?

Inactive Twitter Accounts

B1 – Intermediate

Twitter is working to clean up inactive accounts to present more accurate and credible information that people can trust. This is in response to their commitment to serve the public conversation.

Read the article and listen to the audio and be able to answer the questions that follow:

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/inactive-twitter-accounts-level-1/

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think of Twitter removing inactive accounts?
  2. What is your opinion on this: “If Twitter deletes their accounts, people lose memories of them [people who have died]”?
  3. Do you have Twitter? If so, how much do you use it?
  4. What do you think are the good and bad thing about Twitter?
  5. What are the advantages and disadvantages of having social media accounts?

Researchers Want to Correct Japanese English

B1 – Intermediate

The government in Japan is using computer and online translations to translate Japanese into English which results to confusing words and expressions for English speakers visiting the country.

Let us read more about the article.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2011/201121-japanese-english-1.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your opinion about Japan’s problem?
  2. Are there any strange translations from your language into English?
  3. What do you think of translation software?
  4. What do you think of the government using these software?
  5. Have you ever made a big or strange mistake translating into English?

Reversing the Aging Process

B1 – Intermediate

Aging is associated with changes in dynamic biological, physiological, environmental, psychological, behavioral, and social processes. Some age-related changes are benign, such as graying hair. Others result in declines in function of the senses and activities of daily life and increased susceptibility to and frequency of disease, frailty, or disability. In fact, advancing age is the major risk factor for a number of chronic diseases in humans.

The question on all our minds is, ‘ Is it possible to reverse aging?’

Let’s read the article below to find out.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2011/201125-ageing-process-1.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What did you think when you read the headline?
  2. What are some of the benefits of getting older?
  3. Is aging more difficult for men or women? Why?
  4. Although women live longer than men, it is sometimes said that men “age” better than women. What do you think?
  5. What do you think can you do for yourself to help you age better with improved mobility and strength? When do you think you should start doing this?

Fight for Alaska Oil

B1 – Intermediate

Oil and gas extraction is one of the most profitable industries in the world. It’s no wonder many companies fight for drilling rights in oil reserves around the world.

The US is one of the most oil-rich countries in the world. Now, multi-billion dollar companies are competing against each other to get oil drilling rights in Alaska.

Click and read this short article to know more about this issue and its possible consequences.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/fight-for-alaska-oil-level-1/

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you agree or disagree with Biden’s plans?
  2. What are the environmental impacts of oil drilling?
  3. What can you say about the world’s dependence on oil resources?
  4. What are the sustainable and environmentally-friendly alternatives to oil?